Eliot Kamenitz/The Times-Picayune archiveSaid LSUâs Mikie Mahtook of Trey Watkins, above: 'He can turn a walk into a triple. ... With his base stealing, it makes an easy RBI opportunity for the guys behind him.'

When the NCAA employed new standards that took the power out of metal bats, Watkins' style of play -- speed and getting on base -- became the rule rather than the exception.

LSU fans can get a taste of the impact when the Tigers open the season against Wake Forest this weekend at Alex Box Stadium, with Watkins -- a the former Destrehan Wildcat -- in left field.

Watkins, coming off a season interrupted by a dislocated left elbow midway through the campaign, will help anchor an outfield that will include team-leader Mikie Mahtook returning to center field from right, and Mason Katz and Raph Rhymes sharing playing time in right field.

Few will appreciate Watkins presence more than Mahtook, who also provides speed and base-stealing skill. But with Watkins in the leadoff spot, Mahtook will see better pitches to hit and lots of RBI opportunities.

"He can turn a walk into a triple," Mahtook said. "If he's not having a great day at the plate, he's going to work the pitcher into walk. With his base stealing, it makes an easy RBI opportunity for the guys behind him."

Mahtook knows better than anyone. When Watkins suffered his injury against Georgia in the Tigers' 25th game, he was batting .315 with 13 stolen bases and had scored 36 runs in 92 at-bats. Best of all, he had a .598 on-base percentage with 15 walks. He also was hit by 11 pitches.

Mahtook was moved to the leadoff spot during Watkins' five-week absence. This season he will be back in the middle of the lineup and expecting Watkins to set the table. Watkins plans to oblige.

"The bats are going to take away the long ball, but that's not the type of hitter I am," Watkins said. "It was hard. I was doing well, helping the team. Not being able to be out there was tough, but it's a new year. I'm back and excited about it.

"I missed a lot of baseball. I didn't get to go play over the summer because I was still rehabbing. I came out more focused and with more determination and worked on my all around game -- my drag-bunting, hitting line drives and ground balls, trying not to hit the ball in the air."

The injury might have been a blessing for LSU. Watkins, at the pace he was moving, likely would have been a high pick in the Major League Baseball draft and signed. Now he's back in the leadoff spot.

Mahtook returns to center field, where he started as a freshman in 2009 and where he is more comfortable after playing right field last season. He will be one of the Tigers' best power hitters, but he also is a big threat on the bases -- he led the team with 22 steals last season.

Mahtook can carry the team with his bat at times. He was second on the team with 14 homers and had a team-best .623 slugging percentage, and he drove in 50 runs despite the midseason shift to leadoff.

The biggest contribution needed from Mahtook, a junior, will be leadership, as one of the holdovers from the national championship season two years ago. Mahtook said he spent the offseason trying to improve all aspects of his game, particularly leadership. He said he looks to former teammate pitcher Louis Coleman as the model to follow.

"Louis Coleman was the best leader I've been around," Mahtook said. "Lots of guys led in different ways, but Louis epitomized how LSU baseball is supposed to be played. He struggled early in his career and came back and was THE GUY. He was a guy everybody respected, and he carried our team."

Katz and Rhymes will be two of those watching Mahtook. Katz came on strong at the end of last season as a freshman. He started in left field six of LSU's seven postseason games and batted .417 with a double and six runs scored.

Rhymes, who also will serve as the designated hitter, could also play some at second base. He was chosen the National Junior College Player of the Year after leading LSU-Eunice to the NJCAA Division II title with a .483 batting average, 12 homers, 98 RBIs and 15 steals.

Others who could play in the outfield are Spencer Ware, a running back on the Tigers' football team, and junior college transfer Jimmy Dykstra.